Nemesia plant named ‘Balarwitim’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nemesia  plant named ‘Balarwitim’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Nemesia foetans.

Variety denomination: ‘Balarwitim’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant botanically known as Nemesia foetans and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balarwitim’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during October 2005. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Nemesia cultivars that are freely flowering with unique flower coloration and a well-branched, compact growth habit.

The new Nemesia cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Nemesia foetans breeding selection designated 5291-3, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during March 2006 in a controlled environment at Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since March 2006 at Guadalupe, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balarwitim’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower size and branching characteristic. The new cultivar has larger flowers and more branches than the female parent.

Of the many commercially available Nemesia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Vanilla Sachet ‘Pensug’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,811. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Pensug’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Pensug’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have wider inflorescences than         plants of ‘Pensug’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar are wider than plants of ‘Pensug’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balarwitim’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 7 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balarwitim’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balarwitim’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Apr. 30, 2008 between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Nemesia foetans cultivar Balarwitim. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Nemesia foetans breeding             selection designated 5291-3, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded growth habit.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 16.6 cm. Width: Approximately 26.5 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances lateral             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant: 6.         -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Moderate,             flexible. Length: Approximately 20.1 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.5 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.9 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of young and             mature stems: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch:             Approximately 14. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem.             Shape: Ovate. Margin: Widely serrate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Broadly attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 2.5 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Glabrous. Color of upper surface             of young foliage: 144A with slightly darker venation. Color             of lower surface of young foliage: 144B with venation of             144A. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with             slightly darker venation. Color of lower surface of mature             foliage: 138B with venation of 138A.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 137C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balarwitim’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 4 to 6 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal raceme. Flowers face             upright and outwardly. Flowers not persistent. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 17. Fragrance: Strong,             honeysuckle-like. Length or height: Approximately 6.4 cm.             Width: Approximately 3.7 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers             per inflorescence: Approximately 4.         -   Peduncle.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 2.9 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Solitary, zygomorphic.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid with spur. Length,             including spur: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture: Sparsely glandular pubescent.             Color: Closest to 145D.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Bilabiate with nectar spur. Flower has five             petals; four upper petals are fused at base to form an             upright lobed and arched banner lip; the fifth lower petal             is modified into a larger lip with nectar spur. Width:             Approximately 1.7 cm. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Depth:             Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Upper lip.—Shape: Oval to oblanceolate. Margin: Entire.             Apex: Rounded. Length of central lobes from throat:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of central lobes: Approximately             3.0 mm. Length of lateral lobes from throat: Approximately             8.0 mm. Width of lateral lobes: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of             upper and lower surfaces when fully open: Purer white than             155D.         -   Lower lip.—Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire, undulate. Apex:             Emarginate. Length from palate: Approximately 7.5 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces when fully open:             Purer white than 155D. Palate length: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Palate width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Palate color: 2A with             glandular pubescence of 2b and 172A. Throat length:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Throat width: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Throat texture: Glandular pubescent. Gland color: A mixture             of colorless, 2C and 172A. Throat color: Purer white than             155D with a central area of 2C.         -   Nectar spur.—Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter at             proximal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at distal end:             Less than 1 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Closest to 145D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Star. Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape: Narrow             elliptic. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Sparsely glandular pubescent. Color of upper and lower             surfaces: 144A at base transitioning to 137A at apex.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: At an acute             angle. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter: Less than             1 mm. Texture: Glandular pubescent. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4 per             flower, didynamous. Filament length of longer pair:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Filament length of shorter pair:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Filament color: 155D, translucent.             Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Less than 1 mm.             Anther color: 11B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             11C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma             color: 145D. Style length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Style             color: 155D, translucent. Ovary length: Approximately             1.0 mm. Ovary texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: 145A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Nemesia has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant named ‘Balarwitim’, substantially as herein shown and described. 